Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman passed away following a lengthy battle with cancer, bringing a premature end to what looked set to be a truly epic acting career. The world mourned his passing, and celebrated the impact he made in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as T'Challa.
When it became clear Marvel Studios planned to forge ahead with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, fans wondered whether the character would be recast in order for his story to continue.
Instead, the decision has been made that T'Challa has died in the MCU, retiring the hero that Boseman made his own. We still don't know how that happens, of course, but it's been made clear that visual effects will not be used to "resurrect" Boseman for any scenes in the sequel.
Talking to Empire Online, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige explained the decision not to recast the Black Panther franchise's lead, even in the midst of pushback from fans.
"It just felt like it was much too soon to recast," he explains. "Stan Lee always said that Marvel represents the world outside your window. And we had talked about how, as extraordinary and fantastical as our characters and stories are, there’s a relatable and human element to everything we do. The world is still processing the loss of Chad. And Ryan poured that into the story."
"The conversations were entirely about, yes, 'What do we do next?'" Feige continues. "And how could the legacy of Chadwick – and what he had done to help Wakanda and the Black Panther become these incredible, aspirational, iconic ideas – continue? That’s what it was all about."
It's an approach that makes sense, even if T'Challa's time in the MCU ending has disappointed some fans. The Black Panther sequel looks set to be an emotional experience, anyway, and we're sure Marvel Studios and Coogler have found a way to end this character's story in a satisfying and meaningful way.
As for who will take over as the new Black Panther, we'll find out when Black Panther: Wakanda Forever arrives in theaters on November 11.